Kajari song on verge of extinction

By Our Correspondent

Mahottari, Aug 10 : The Kajari song, which is sung on the occasion of the ‘Jhula festival’ in Mithilanchal from Saun Shukla Tritiya to Purnima, is now on the verge of extinction. 

In the past, the local residents used to enjoy the tune of Jhula  Kajari song for a month at the Sitaram and Radhakrishna temples of Mithilanchal. According to tradition, Lord Sitaram and Radhakrishna are swung in Jhula Festival.

Amod Kumar Thakur of Jaleshwor Municipality Ward No - 8 said that songs like Jhula lage kalamkari Dori, Jhule Krishna Murari Na, Saunme upawan Ban Phule, Jhula Jhule Nandkishore used to resonate in the Sitaram temple.  Unfortunately, now the colorfulness of the festival has waned in the village. 

Although the Jhula festival is celebrated in every Sitaram and Radhakrishna temple of Mithilanchal, it has unique charms in Janaki and Ram temple of Janakpur, Radhakrishna temple of Matihani.

Rakesh Prasad Chaudhary, the author of various books, has said that in Kajari, which includes songs of beauty, sorrow, and grief, there is a vivid depiction of social distortions and anomalies as well as women’s coercion, divorce, and poverty. 

He said that Kajari singing starts with Devi songs and turns into Madhumas, rain songs,s, and sorrow songs.

In Kajari, which includes songs like Sukhiya Shyam Nahi Ghar Aye, Warkha Warsan Lagena, Badal Garde Bijuji Chamke, Jiyara Dhadke Na, Chaudhary said, “Everyone’s efforts are necessary to save Kajari, which is an integral folk song, from being lost.”